Little Downham is blooming thanks to creation of a new wildflower patch.

Ely Standard: Little Downham is blooming thanks to creation of a new wildflower patch. Picture: KEITH NORTON.Little Downham is blooming thanks to creation of a new wildflower patch. Picture: KEITH NORTON. (Image: Archant)

Towards the end of last year the conservation group decided they wanted to create a small wildflower patch in the village nature reserve.

The idea was to encourage more insects into the area as in the next field there is an orchard comprising many varieties of apple trees which need pollinating.

With the help of a local farmer and the volunteers grass was removed and the ground ploughed and harrowed ready for a spring sowing of the seeds (including some seed from CN Seeds at Pymoor).

After sowing and raking, two silver Duke of Edinburgh young people fitted old CDs on strings as bird scarers and set them across the sown patch which volunteers had erected plastic (it does have uses) fencing.

The group also received help from the Ely fire brigade station commander who agreed to water the seeded patch.

Keith Norton, of the conservation group, said: "The weather then broke (it would) and lo and behold we have a magnificent array of wildflowers including the very showy poppy. Thanks all round."